Water processing device

ABSTRACT

A water processing device for removing contaminants from water for consumption, consisting of: 1) a heat exchanger; 2) a heater; 3) a boiler chamber; 4) a liquid level control device; 5) a demister; 6) a degasser; and, 7) a self-cleaning component. A water seal to prevent steam from leaking from the device is also provided.

This application claims the priority of provisional patent applicationU.S. Serial No. 60/249,811, filed Nov. 17, 2000, the contents of whichare incorporated by reference in their entirety, into the presentapplication.

Throughout this application various publications are referenced. Thedisclosures of these publications in their entireties are herebyincorporated by reference into this application in order to more fullydescribe the state of the art to which this invention pertains.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new, point of use water processingdevice for removing impurities from fluids such as water for consumeruse.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The earth is largely water with only a tiny fraction available fordrinking or irrigation. The majority of the water is contained in ouroceans and is too salty for human consumption. Most of the watercurrently used for drinking and irrigation is fresh water at less thanhalf of 1% of the global water supply. A considerable number of peopleon earth lack clean drinking water, with contaminated drinking waterinvolved in a large percentage of all human illness and diseaseincluding gastroenteritis, dysentery, cholera and other waterbornediseases which claim many human lives each year. Abundant, clean watercan improve the lives of rural dwellers worldwide.

The water supply systems in the United States are under increasingstrain with reoccurring drought and contamination. Water is beingremoved from underground reservoirs known as aquifers too fast to allowfor rainwater to refill these resources. Moreover, purification effortsof ocean water are presently insufficient to provide an adequate supplyof fresh water.

Problems of water scarcity are intensified by pollution of our freshwater supplies. In the United States, trihalomethane gases, known tocause cancer in laboratory animals, contaminate virtually all of ourdrinking water as a result of the chlorination process that city watersystems use to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases.Trihalomethanes form when chlorine interacts with algae, microorganismsor other organic materials in the water. Other contaminants originate inthe delivery system- lead from water pipes leach into our tapwater.Pollutants are also contaminating groundwater. Salt thrown on icyroadways has worked its ways into aquifers in New England, and wells arevulnerable to contamination from dumped toxic chemicals, includingpesticides. Once groundwater is contaminated, it stays contaminated formany, many years.

People have relied on distillation as a separation technique to purifywater for thousands of years. Distillation is a process of evaporationand condensation which involves boiling the feed liquid, moving itsvapors to a different location, and condensing the vapors to obtain purewater product. The portion of the feed liquid that does not boil offbecomes concentrated. This concentrated liquid known as “blowdown,”carries impurities out. The problem with distillation is the extremelyhigh amount of energy it takes to boil water. About 1200 BTU per gallon(1.5 kwh per liter) are required to heat the feed water from 60° F. (16°C.) to 212° F. (100° C.), its boiling point. After feed water reachesits boiling point, about 8000 BTU (2.3 kwh) of heat energy are requiredto convert a gallon of it to steam.

In the past, people have purified water for consumption using a homedistillation apparatus known as a still. Conventional tapwater stillsconsist of a boiling chamber, a condensing chamber, and an electricheater. The heater boils the impure water. Steam travels to thecondensing chamber and condenses, becoming distilled water. These stillsremove solid pollutants that contaminate the drinking water. But suchstills won't remove toxic gases or liquids, which bubble off with theescaping steam, contaminating the product water.

There remains an urgent need for an efficient, point of use device whichis simple to manufacture and use for processing water to removeimpurities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a point of use waterprocessing device that can produce multiple gallons of pure water fromimpure water over twenty four (24) hours using reasonable amounts ofelectrical power. The device removes contaminating solids, liquids andgases from the incoming impure water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the water processing device of theinvention showing the components described in detail infra.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic depiction of the water processing device of theinvention, described in detail, infra.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the lower plate of the heat exchanger componentof the water processing device of the invention having flow directingwater channels.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the lower heat exchange plate of the heatexchanger of the water processing device.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the feed-cooling water channel plate of the heatexchanger component of the water processing device of the inventionhaving flow directing water channels and located between the lower andupper heat exchange plates of the heat exchanger.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the upper heat exchange plate of the heatexchanger of the water processing device.

FIGS. 7A and 7B is a top (FIG. 7A) and bottom (FIG. 7B) view of theupper plate of the heat exchanger having a cavity for the heater (FIG.8) and flow directing water channels.

FIG. 8 depicts the heating element of the water processing device of theinvention and an insulating plate.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the boiler surface plate of the water processingdevice.

FIGS. 10A and 10B is a top (10A) and bottom (10B) view of the boilerchamber of the water processing device mounted on top of the boilersurface plate (FIG. 9).

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the demister/degasser plate (FIG. 1) of thewater processing device of the invention, showing the demister anddegasser flow channel for the feed water.

FIG. 12 is a cross-section of the float valve depicted in FIG. 12showing the float, and conduits for steam and blowdown.

FIG. 13 is a cross-section of the water seal tube and wiper mechanismlocated in the boiler chamber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a water processing device that can beoperated continuously with reasonable energy usage and provides removalof contaminating solids, liquids and gases from water for consumption.

The device incorporates several key structural elements that provideoptimal purification for a given inflow of water and energy consumption.These key structural elements are: 1) a heat exchanger; 2) a heater; 3)a boiling chamber; 4) a liquid level control device; 5) a demister; 6) adegasser; and, 7) a self-cleaning component. The device provides theadvantage of boiling water only after noncondensible gases and volatileliquids have been removed by the degasser, reducing the presence ofthese contaminants in the final processed water. FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate the relationship of these elements in the water processingdevice 1 of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, and moving from the base of the water processingdevice to the top, the device 1 includes a bottom plate 2 havingapertures 3 for fastening bolts or screws 4. Wiper motor 5 for rotatingthe wiper 6 of the self-cleaning mechanism of the device is positionedabove bottom plate 2. A feed solenoid valve 7 is preferably includedabove bottom plate 2 for controlling water flow on and off by electricalcurrent.

Heat exchanger 8 consists of the following components: 1) a lower plate9 having a water channel for flow of blowdown and vented noncondensiblegases and steam from the degasser; 2) a feed water/blowdown heatexchange plate 10; 3) a feed/cooling water channel plate 11; 4) aproduct/feed water heat exchange plate 12; and 5) an upper plate withheater cavity 14 and product water flow channel 13 (see also FIGS. 3-7).Above the upper plate 13 is the heater 15 (see also FIG. 8), under theboiler surface plate 16.

Above the boiler surface plate 16, steam tube 17 is inserted in aperture18 to conduct steam from the cyclone demister 23 to the heat exchanger8.

Boiler 20 consists of the boiler surface plate 16 in contact with wiper6, boiler chamber 21 having a cavity 22, cyclone demister 23 and floatvalve 24 (FIGS. 10, 11 and 12). The boiler 20 includes top plate 25 thatis preferably formed in one piece with the boiler chamber 21. Above theboiler chamber 21 is a demister/degasser plate 26 (FIG. 11) having anaperture 27 for gear shaft 28 of reduction gear 29 encased in water seal30.

Reduction gear 29 is driven by pinion gear 32 which is mounted to shaftextension 31 for connecting to wiper motor shaft 33 to rotationallyoperate wiper 6 to contact and clean the surface of the boiler surfaceplate 16 (see also FIG. 13).

A cover 84 may be placed over the top of the device 1 covering theprocessing device 1.

Holes 3 for screws or bolts 4 are positioned near the four (4) cornersof the components of the device, including the bottom plate 2, lowerplate 9, feed water/blowdown heat exchange plate 10, feed/cooling waterchannel plate 11, product/feed water heat exchange plate 12, upper plate13 of the heat exchanger, boiler surface plate 16, boiler chamber 21,and demister/degasser plate 26.

FIG. 2 depicts diagrammatically the relationship of the variouscomponents of the device 1 of the invention and will be described withreference also to FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, water entering forprocessing (“inlet water”) enters the water processing device of theinvention 1 and is split into 1) feed water that enters into the heatexchanger 8 (FIG. 1); and 2) cooling water that enters into the heatexchanger 8. In the heat exchanger 8, the cooling water is used toreduce the temperature of product water exiting from the cyclonedemister 23 and vented gases and steam exiting from the degasser channel67 (FIG. 11). The degasser channel 67 removes gases and volatile liquidspresent in the feed water that otherwise would exit with the steam fromthe cyclone demister 23 and contaminate the product water. The feedwater is heated to boiling temperature by heat exchange with the exitingproduct water and the blowdown exiting from the boiler 20. Heating thefeed water by heat exchange reduces the amount of energy needed to boilthe incoming feed water in the boiling chamber 21. From the heatexchanger 8, the heated feed water travels through the degasser channel67, and enters the boiling chamber 21 where it is boiled by heater 15.Steam exiting the boiling chamber 21 via the cyclone demister 23 travelsto the heat exchanger 8 from which it exits as processed product waterafter cooling by heat exchange with the feed water and cooling water.

The device includes a control mechanism for maintaining sufficientliquid in the boiler chamber 21, such as a bolt valve 24 (FIG. 1 andFIG. 12). The float valve 24 regulates the level of fluid in the boilerchamber 21 by permitting excess water containing contaminants remainingafter boiling, which is called “blowdown,” to exit. The float valve 24also operates to prevent blowdown from exiting the boiling chamber 21when the water level drops below a predetermined level. Blowdown exitsvia the float valve 24 into the heat exchanger 8 where it is cooled byheat exchange with the feed water before exiting the device 1.Noncondensible gases with some steam exit the boiler 20 via the degasserchannel 67 and enter the heat exchanger 8 where they participate in heatexchange with the cooling water. The cooling water combines with theblowdown, before exiting the device 1 as waste water, for example into adrain in a sink.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 13, wiper 6 is operated by wiper motor 5 viareduction gear 29 in rotational contact with wiper shaft 28 to removedeposits from the bottom surface of the boiler chamber 21. Wiper motor 5can be a standard electric AC or DC motor. A steam motor can also beused instead of an electric motor. In this embodiment, a steam rotorthat is rotated by entering steam is placed in the cavity of thedemister 23 and is used to drive the pinion gear 32 which in turnrotates the reduction gear 29 to operate the wiper 6.

The device 1 preferably includes a thermal overload mechanism 34 (FIG.2) with automatic reset to enhance safety of the device, by detectingwhen excessive temperatures (e.g. above 230° F.) are reached by theheater, for example when there is insufficient water in the boilerchamber 21. The sensor of thermal overload mechanism 34 passes from thebase 2 of the device 1 via a copper or aluminum connector upward in thedevice through aperture 80 in lower plate 9, feed water/blowdown heatexchange plate 10, feed/cooling water channel plate 11, product/feedwater heat exchange plate 12, and upper plate 13 of the heat exchangerto contact the heater 15.

Typical parameters for operating the water processing device are a waterinlet pressure of 30 to 120 PSI, with water flow restrictors 35 and 36inserted to regulate the flow of the feed water (35) and cooling water(36) into the heat exchanger 8. For example, the feed water and coolingwater restrictors 35 and 36 restrict their respective water flows intothe heat exchanger 8 to approximately 1 GPH. In addition, a ventrestrictor 37 may be used to regulate the amount of steam produced inthe boiler 20 and used in the degasser channel 67 to remove gases andvolatile liquids from the feed water. As an example, the vent restrictor37 may be used to permit approximately 5% of the total steam produced toflow into the heat exchanger 8, leaving approximately 95% of the steamto exit the cyclone demister 23 into the heat exchanger 8 where it iscooled to produce the processed product water. In this example, theproduct water will exit the heat exchanger 8 at the rate ofapproximately ⅕ GPH and waste water will exit at the rate ofapproximately 1⅘ GPH. The waste (drain) water includes the coolingwater, blowdown and vented gases. The heater 15 providing approximately500 watts of power will produce the processed product water atapproximately ⅕ GPH using these parameters in the device 1 describedherein.

It is illustrative to trace the flow of the various fluids and gasesthrough the device 1. As described above, incoming feed water enteringthe device 1 passes through the solenoid valve 7 and then passes throughwater restrictor 35 and flows into the heat exchanger 8. Feedwater/blowdown heat exchange plate 10 (FIG. 4) is inserted between lowerplate 9 and feed/cooling water channel plate 11 as shown in FIG. 1. Feedwater enters the heat exchanger 8 through aperture 38 in lower plate 9(FIG. 3) and passes through feed water/blowdown heat exchange plate 10at aperture 39 (FIG. 4). The feed water then enters water channel 40which is cut out (has no floor) in feed/cooling water channel plate 11(FIG. 5). Vented noncondensible gases and steam exiting from thedegasser/demister plate 26 enter lower plate 9 at aperture 41 into flowdirecting channel 42 and exit at aperture 43 (FIG. 3). Blowdown from theboiler exits the float valve 24 at aperture 61 (FIG. 12) and passes downthrough the device, passing through aperture 61 in boiler chamber 21(FIGS. 10A, B), down through aperture 62 in boiler surface plate 16(FIG. 9), through aperture 63 in upper plate 13 (FIGS. 7A and 7B), downthrough aperture 64 in product/feed water heat exchange plate 12 (FIG.6) and through aperture 65 in feed/cooling water channel plate 11 (FIG.5) and down through aperture 66 in feed water/blowdown heat exchangeplate 10 (FIG. 4) to enter flow directing channel 42 in plate 9 (FIG.3). The feed water travelling in water channel 40 in plate 11 becomesheated by heat exchange through plate 10 with blowdown travelling inflow directing channel 42 and exiting at aperture 43 in lower plate 9(FIG. 3) and by heat exchange through plate 12 with hot product (steam)travelling in flow directing channel 44 of upper plate 13 (FIG. 7). Theheated feed water exits out of channel 40 in feed/cooling water channelplate 11 (FIG. 5) through aperture 46 in feed water/blowdown heatexchange plate 10 (FIG. 4) and out of the heat exchanger 8 throughaperture 45 in lower plate 9 (FIG. 3). The heated feed water can thentravel via a conduit (e.g. a plastic or rubber tube) to aperture 57 inplate 9, and upward in the device via aperture 57 in plates 10, 11, 12,13, 16, and boiler chamber 21 to enter the degasser channel 67 at slot69.

Cooling water that is used to cool the product water enters the heatexchanger 8 at aperture 47 in lower plate 9 (FIG. 3) passes throughaperture 48 in feed water/blowdown heat exchange plate 10 (FIG. 4) andenters water channel 49 in feed/cooling water channel plate 11 (FIG. 5).After travelling in water channel 49, where it cools the vented gasesand steam that have exited the degasser channel 67 and are travelling inlower portion of water channel 42 in lower plate 9 (FIG. 3), the warmedcooling water moves downward in the device via aperture 50 in feedwater/blowdown heat exchange plate 10 (FIG. 4), to join the cooledvented gases and blowdown exiting as waste (drain) water, for examplevia plastic or rubber conduits.

The hot processed product water travelling as “dry” steam exits thecyclone demister 23 and travels in channel 44 of upper plate 13 (FIG. 7)where it is converted to water by heat exchange through product/feedwater heat exchange plate 12 (FIG. 6) with the feed and cooling waterstravelling in water channels 40 and 49 of feed/cooling water channelplate 11 (FIG. 5) as described above. The cooled product water exits atone end 51 of water channel 44 (FIG. 7) and moves down through aperture52 in product/feed water heat exchange plate 12 (FTG. 6), continuingdown through aperture 53 in feed water/cooling water channel plate 11(FIG. 5) and out aperture 54 in feed water/blowdown heat exchange plate10 (FIG. 4) and exits the heat exchanger 8 from aperture 55 in lowerplate 9 (FIG. 3). The product water then exits the device, for examplevia plastic or rubber conduits.

Plates 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 16 as well as boiler chamber 21, boiler topplate 25 and demister/degasser plate 26 all have holes 3 for screws orbolts 4 in their four corners. Plates 9, 11 and 13, and boiler chamber21 and demister/degasser plate 26 also have grooves 56, for example0.050 inches deep, 0.090 inches wide for receiving rubber or plasticO-rings, for example having a diameter of 0.07 inches, to prevent airand water leakage in the device (FIGS. 3, 5, 7, 10 and 11).Alternatively, plates 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 16 can be bonded together,for example using a high temperature epoxy such as produced by mixingresin no. 2846 and hardener 3611 manufactured by PTM&W Industries, SantaFe Springs, Calif., to prevent leakage. Degasser plate 26 may also bebonded in this manner to boiler chamber 21. In addition, plates 9, 10,11, 12, 13 and 16 have apertures 57 and 58 for movement of heated feedwater up through the device into the boiler (aperture 57) and for ventedsteam and gases from the degasser (aperture 58) down through the device1.

In one embodiment, lower plate 2 can be 7 inches long by 7 inches wideby {fraction (1/16)} inch thick made of a suitable material such asplastic. Heat exchange plates 10 and 12 may be 7 inches long by 7 incheswide by 0.010 inch thick. Feed water/cooling channel plate 11 can be 7inches long by 7 inches wide by 0.05 inch thick. Lower plate 9 and upperplate 13 of the heat exchanger 8 may be 7 inches long by 7 inches wideby 0.5 inch thick. Boiler surface plate 16 may be 7 inches long by 7inches wide by 0.06 inch thick. Boiler chamber 21 may be 7 inches longby 7 inches wide by 2 inches thick. Demister/degasser plate 26 canconsist of a degasser channel 67 of approximately 20 inches in length, 1inch wide and 0.75 inch deep in a plate 7 inches long by 7 inches wideby 1 inch thick. The cover for the device in this embodiment is ofsufficient depth to enclose the various components of the device, forexample the cover can be approximately 7.25 inches long by 7.25 incheswide by 5 inches high. The dimensions of the reduction gear 29 can be 6½inches in diameter. These dimensions are provided by way of example andmay be varied as needed to optimize manufacture and/or performance ofthe device.

Above the feed/cooling water channel plate 11 (FIG. 5), is product/feedwater heat exchange plate 12 (FIG. 6), over which lies upper plate 13(FIG. 7A) having heater cavity 14 for receiving heater 15 consisting ofheater element 59 attached to insulator plate 60 (FIG. 8). On the bottomof plate 13 (FIG. 7B) is water flow channel 44 in which the dry steamexiting the cyclone demister 23 travels after entering the heatexchanger 8 via the steam tube 17 through aperture 19 in upper plate 13(FIGS. 1 and 7). Channel 44 is completed by the bottom of the upperplate 13 and may be ¼ inch in depth.

Heater 15 consists of heater element 59 attached to insulator plate 60as depicted in FIG. 8. The heater element 59 is composed of suitableelectricity conducting materials including, but not limited to,stainless steel. The element is adhered to an insulator plate 60(FIG. 1) of suitable high temperature resistant material such as a hightemperature epoxy or Teflon®. The amount of energy produced by theheater element 59 is a function of the resistance of the material usedto form the element which in turn is a function of the thickness andwidth of the material used and its total path length. For example, for aheating element made of 0.002 inch thick stainless steel having a widthof 0.5 inch and a total path length of approximately 150 inches, theresistance from end of the element to the other is approximately 29ohms. If 120 volts of power is supplied to this element, approximately500 watts of energy in the form of heat will be produced.

Above the heater 15 is boiler surface plate 16 (FIG. 9) having aperture18 for abutting steam tube 17 and aperture 62 for downward passage ofhot blowdown from the float valve 24. As noted above, plate 16 also hasapertures 57 and 58. Boiler surface plate 16 also has aperture 68 formotor shaft 33 and motor shaft extension 31.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, heated feed water from the heat exchanger8 enters the steam stripping degasser plate 26 into the degasser channel67 at slot 69 (FIG. 11) upward from aperture 57 in the boiler chamber 21(FIG. 10), where it is degassed by steam from the boiler 20 that hasexited the boiler chamber 21 at aperture 70 (FIG. 10). The degassed hotfeed than exits the degasser channel 67 and enters the boiler ataperture 70 where a portion is converted to steam. Steam from the boilerchamber 21 enters the cyclone demister 23 (FIG. 11) at channels 71 and72 (FIG. 10) and forms a whirling funnel form or cyclone (in thecounterclockwise direction) in the cyclone demister 23 (FIG. 11). As aresult of centrifugal force in the cyclone demister 23, water dropletscontaining contaminants are removed from the steam and flow back throughthe mist return channel 73 into the boiler chamber 21 (FIG. 10). Theproduct exits as “dry steam” from the cyclone demister 23 down throughsteam tube 17 and through aperture 18 in boiler surface plate 16 (FIG.9) into water channel 44 via aperture 19 in the upper plate of the heatexchanger (FIG. 7). Noncondensible gases and some steam exit thedegasser channel 67 at slot 74 passing downward through aperture 58 inthe boiler chamber 21 (FIG. 10) down to the heat exchanger 8. Apertures75 in the boiler chamber 21 (FIG. 10) and 27 in the demister/degasserplate 26 (FIG. 11) permit the shaft 28 of the reduction gear 29 to passencased within water seal 30 which prevents steam from leaking from theboiler 20.

As shown in FIG. 12, the float valve 24 consists of a float 76 thatmoves up and down within the float valve chamber 77 with the level offluid in the boiler chamber 21, and upper and lower channels 78 and 79that permit the movement of steam and water to and from the boilerchamber 21 into the float valve chamber 77. The float valve chamber 77can be, but is not limited to dimensions of 2 inches in height and 1inch in diameter. The float 76 can be, but is not limited to dimensionsof ¾ inch in height and ⅞ inch in diameter. As the fluid level in theboiler chamber 21 decreases, the float 76 moves downward and blocksaperture 61, preventing blowdown from continuing to exit the boiler. Asthe fluid level in the boiler chamber 21 increases, the float 76 ispushed upwards, unblocking aperture 61, permitting blowdown to continueexiting the boiler chamber 21. The construction of the float valve 24permits the steam pressure in the boiler chamber 21 and the float valvechamber 77 to equalize so that the level of water in both the floatvalve chamber 77 and the boiler chamber 21 is the same.

The wiper mechanism for cleaning the boiler surface plate is shown indetail in FIG. 13. Wiper 6 contacts the upper surface of boiler surfaceplate 16, rotating around shaft 28 of reduction gear 29 to removesurface deposits, such as scale buildup, from the surface plate 16. Theshaft 28 is encased in water seal 30. The wiper may be made of anysuitable firm material such as rubber or plastic, and in the embodimentdescribed herein using plates of dimensions 7 inches long by 7 incheswide, the wiper is preferably 6 inches in diameter.

Water seal 30 is a novel component that prevents steam from leaking outof the device around the reduction gear shaft 28. As seen in FIG. 13,water seal 30 is a tube that surrounds the reduction gear shaft 28starting below the reduction gear 29 and extends down through aperture27 of the demister/degasser plate 26 into the cavity 22 of boilerchamber 21. The tube of the water seal 30 is of greater diameter thanthe diameter of the reduction gear shaft 28. The bottom 87 of the waterseal 30 lies below the surface of the water in the boiler chamber cavity22. Water in the boiler moves into the bottom of the water seal and Upuntil a point of equilibrium where the weight of the water inside thetube of the water seal 30 is equal to the pressure above the water levelin the cavity 22. The top of water seal 30 extends to a sufficientheight to prevent water inside from rising above the top. This preventssteam in the cavity 22 from leaking up and out of the device around thereduction gear shaft 28 and provides a long-lasting seal.

Apertures 81 and 82 (FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7) provide for passage ofelectrical power leads to the heater (FIG. 8B).

Uses of the Compact Water Processing Device of the Invention

The water processing device of the invention has a number of uses. Thedevice is used to remove contaminants from tapwater, and can be used topurify seawater or wastewater, for example during droughts, or in areaswhere fresh water is scarce. The costs of operating the devicecontinuously are well within the budget of many American consumers, andcould be made available through various forms of assistance to a broadergroup of consumers worldwide.

While several illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shownand described, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occurto those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternate embodimentsare contemplated, and can be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims andequivalents thereof. The embodiments are not intended in any way tootherwise limit the scope of the disclosure of the protection granted byLetter Patent granted hereon.

What is claimed:
 1. A water processing device for removing contaminantsfrom incoming feed water comprising: a) a heat exchanger or for heatingincoming feed water end cooling outgoing product water; b) a boilerhaving a cavity and an upper surface and a bottom surface of the cavityfor receiving and boiling the feed water from the heat exchanger togenerate product in the form of steam; c) a heater for boiling said feedwater in the boiler; d) a degasser for removing noncondensible gasesfrom said feed water; e) a demister for removing droplets containingcontaminants from the product steam, whereby the product steam exitingfrom the demister is cooled to liquid form in said heat exchanger andrecovered as processed liquid product; and f) a mechanism for preventingand/or removing surface deposits from the surfaces of tile boiler. 2.The water processing device of claim 1, wherein said heat exchangercomprises; a) a first plate containing a flow directing channel for flowof hot blowdown and vented gases from the boiler, said blowdowntravelling in one portion of the flow directing channel and said ventedgases travelling in an adjacent portion of said flow directing channel;b) a second plate containing a flow directing channel for flow ofincoming feed water and a flow directing channel for flow of incomingcooling water; c) a third plate inserted between the first plate and thesecond plate for heat exchange between the blowdown in the flowdirecting channel in the first plate and the incoming feed water in theflow directing channel in the second plate and between the vented gasesin the water flow directing channel in the first plate and the coolingwater flowing in the flow directing channel of the second plate, suchthat said blowdown heats said incoming feed water and said cooling watercools said vented gases; d) a fourth plate containing flow directingchannels for the product steam exiting from the demister; and e) a fifthplate inserted between the second plate and the fourth plate for heatexchange between the product steam and incoming feed water and coolingwater, such that said product water in the flow directing channels inthe fourth plate is cooled by said cooling water in said flow directingchannel in said second plate and said feed water in the flow directingchannel in said second plate is heated by said product steam.
 3. Thewater processing device of claim 1, further comprising a liquid levelcontrol device for regulating the volume of water in the boiler.
 4. Thewater processing device of claim 1, further comprising a shaft foroperating said wiper mechanism, said shaft located in the cavity of saidboiler and extending through an aperture in the upper surface of saidboiler.
 5. The water processing device of claim 4, further comprising awater seal comprising a hallow tube surrounding the shaft, the bottom ofsaid hollow tube located beneath the water level in said cavity of theboiler and the top of said hollow tube located above the water level inthe hollow tube during use, and the diameter of said hollow tube greaterthan the diameter of said shaft.